Ask governor to veto harmful local ordinance bill Guest Commentary

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Earlier this month, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 170 Local Ordinances This harmful bill will limit local governments' ability to enact and enforce ordinances to protect their citizens Join your fellow Floridians in asking Gov Ron DeSantis to veto SB 170

Local ordinances have protected the unique environments of Sanibel and Captiva If SB 170 is passed into law, future regulations aimed at protecting our natural resources that serve as the backbone of our environment and our local economy will be impacted Ordinances relating to sea turtle lighting, mangrove and dune preservation, single-use plastic bans, and manatee and gopher tortoise protection could all be at risk

SB 170 requires that counties and cities provide a “business impact assessment” prior to introducing a new ordinance, giving a cause of action for businesses to sue city governments if they believe that local regulations will impact their profits If the business wins its suit, the government could be liable for up to $50,000 in attorneys' fees, and the ordinance could be overturned As the courts evaluate the business' claims, new regulations are prevented from going into effect. This will lead to lengthy delays as local courts are bogged down with

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unnecessary and costly legal battles These costs will be borne by the taxpayers

Local ordinances are shaped by the voices of Floridians, and this bill will reduce the ability of local government to respond to the needs of its citizens

The vague language of this wide-reaching legislation is not limited to environmental regulations It creates the potential for unintended consequences that hamper local governments, and prevent self-governance. Unnecessary and costly bills such as SB 170 hamper civic engagement, bog down our courts with unnecessary litigation, and amplify the deregulation that is damaging to our environment, our economy, and our way of life in South Florida.

Please join the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation in asking the gover- nor to veto SB 170 by visiting https://p2a co/wVuDfwE

Another avenue to send the governor this veto message would be to call his office directly at 850-717-9337 or email him by visiting https://www flgov com/email-the-governor/ This is a way that those of you who do not have qualifying Florida zip codes can still make sure your voices are heard

Thank you for joining our campaign to roll back harmful restrictions on citizens' rights!

Founded in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit www sccf org